CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3309, 15 August 1917, Page 41

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fritz. Everything promises well for the racing to be held hero this week. Quite apart from the actual racing, a good deal of interest attaches to Grand National Week this year. With only two days at Riccarton and two at Addington, as a result of the reduction scheme, where we had become accustomed to three days' sport at each course, there will be much less incentive for visitors to come from a great distance. These will be the first meetings held since the racing was reduced. There are many things in co-operation to affect tho attendance this week, but the direction in which it will suffer most is that tho afternoon trains for country districts will go out at their ordinary times, instead of being delayed each day for an hour or more to suit the convenience of race-goers. I think it will be found that the gate receipts at Riccarton and Addington this week will show a considerable drop from the daily average of past years. In other respects, however. Grand National Week should turn out quite satisfactorily. Acceptances for the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting have still to be made, but it seems certain, from the number of horses now on the scene, that there will be plenty of competitors to ensure, good sport. The fields for the principal jumping events are scarcely so large as usual; but it is satisfactory to find that all the horses engaged in the Grand National Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdle Handicap have arrived, with the exception of Crib, who will be hero in a matter of hours. Most of the Winter Cup candidates are also on the ground, so it looks as if there would be a record field for that event. There will be plenty of competitors for all" the races on the fiat., and any shortage will bo in the jumping line. It is, however, pleasing to find that class is well represented among the junipers, so the facing may be of a high standard. Crib still figures in both the Grand Nationals, but I hoar that tho steeplechase is his special mission. Jt is only a matter of negotiating the fences, and he will be very dangerous. Braeburn looks well, and such a proved stayer has to show only his

best form to be handy. He should at least easily hold Uluepot. Master Strowan I do not' fancy against Crib, who may, howover, find Merry Lad hard to beat on Trent ham running. St. Elmn is in both races, anrl it is doubtful in which he will run. Ho is in good order, and is worth his place in either field. Sandy Paul does not appeal, while Diavolo and Knkby may find the iourney too long. Nita may run well, but in her case, also, it is suggested that the distance will be a bar to success. The Brewer will suffer nothing in jumping comparisons, but he is too slow. Among the candidates for tho Urand National Hurdle Handicap there are several with good prospects. Art looks well, but I think ho has too much weight, against which it has to bo remembered that he is a great stayer. Rewi Poto I have not seen, but opinions are divided about him. If as good as his admirers claim he will win; but some good judges who saw him at Trentham take strong exception to his jumping. Leonta seems a difficult horse to sum up, but if ho repeats his Trentham form ho will be handy. Bon Revo I have a great regard for. He has lots of pace, and can stav, in addition to which he is a fine jumper. Te Onga does not appeal, while the good-looking Sir Fisher seems too uncertain ot his fences. Sleight o Hand is a brilliant galloper and a great jumper, but I expect the length of tho journey to tic him up. Marconi is only a Sunday horse, -while Flying Camp did not take my fancy when he schooled the other morning. Sir" Solo, on the other hand, is shaping in good style, and I expect him to run prominently. The Winter Cup is one of the greatest problems I have struck for some time. It seems madness to be looking for the winner now, as some early backers have already done. In such a 'big field the draw for places will plav a big part in the result, for unless a horse is decently placed in the first stages I do not think there will be much chance of getting clear of the ruck, St. Elmn has been schooled over hurdles and country since he has been at Riccarton, and on each occasion he shaped satisfactorily. When tried over hurdles he was easily beaten by Bon Revo, who jumped in brilliant style ; but St. Elmn was not out for a serious tussle. Over the fences he never looked like making a mistake. Master Strowan did not altogether please in a schooling effort over fences on Saturday. He cleared the obstacles all right, but seemed to land badly. Possibly, how ever, ho will be better in a race, as he improved as he went on. Merry Lad has not done a great deal of hard work since he has been here, but he is in fine condition for the Grand National. On figures it is hard to find anything m tho field to beat him. . Sir Fisher and Miss Sation jumped hurdles together during the week, but their display was not high class. Sleight o' Hand continues to gallop m greac style,' beating everything he goes with. I have ;.n idea, however, that the la3t half-mile of the hurdle race will find him wanting. F. Christmas's pair, Fiery Cross and Killjoy, continue to gallop very attractively, and they can be marked off as certain to do well at some of the early meetings_ this season, however they may fare at Riccarton. They will both be started in the Winter Cup, and they can be relied on to run prominently. Of the two I prefer. Fiery Cross, who is not quite so brilliant as his mate, but is a proved stayer. I will not be at all surprised to see him in the figntmg line at the finish. Parisian Diamond seems certain to start favourite for tho Winter Cup. He is a good cut of a horse, and a resolute galloper. In some quarters, however, he is referred to as a slow beginner, and this will be greatly against his chances. Another well-backed northerner, Johnny Walker, does not appeal to mo at all for a similar reason. Miss Do Val bears a well-trained appearance, and will run well in the Winter Cup. So will Tip Up. who never looked in such order. These two are both by All Red, and they look like doing the Stepniak horse good service this season. Snub and Wardancer are in good trim at present, and they should race well at tho spring meetings. ' Snub can be written out of the Winter Cup, however, as he will be badly placed at the end of two furlongs. Sedd-el-I3ahr has been galloping fairly well lately, but scarcely up to the standard necessary to win big races. Brambletye is in tip-top form at present, and her track work makes her look quite a useful Winter Cup prospect. I have seen nothing that goes more pleasingly, taking one morning with another. She may not bo quite up to tho necessary class, but she is certain to win lots of races this season. Jcannot is in rare fettle, and he should be handy in the Winter Cup._ About a week ago ho appeared to bo going off; but it was only a temporary lapse, as ho is galloping as well as ever again. The Hawke's Bay hunter Burgess was boomed as a champion before he arrived here; but his display of fencing one morning last week, in company with Tradition, made him appear no more than a moderate. Dionysius went badly in a gallop on Saturday. There may have been some explanation, as he has been going in fine style. If he is all right he will be handy in tho hack hurdle races. Stcperina gave a good display of jumping over the hurdles on Saturday. He would bo picked out as an early winner but for the knowledge that he frequently schooled well when S. Trilford had him, but could not be persuaded to do his best in his races. Kilkee has improved since tho Wellington meeting, and he may be hard to beat in some of the minor races this week. No horse at Riccarton looks better than Don Pacifico, and he has got through all his track work in highly creditable style. Asealaphus would win plenty of races if ho would repeat his track form. This has again been good lately, but he is much bettor left alono M'Aulay's pair, Samisen and Furling, havo been galloping in their best stylo lately, and they will bo hard to beat in early sprint events. Euripos is a much-improved gelding as a result of his trip "to Trentham, where ho raced consistently and with his full share of bad hick. On his track form I pick him as a certain winner before long. The MenschikofT mare Zarita, in W. M'Donald's stable, is a useful sort of a galloper, who should pay her way in hack company this season. The Trentham steeplechaser Coalition has come on a lot with the schooling he has had at Riccarton. He looks a likely customer for one of the minor cross-country events this week.

Disdainful is'galloping brilliantly at prosent. It would take something good to beat her with a moving start; but she- does not seem to go off right from a stand. Maro Antony is amiss, and will not bo

able to race for some time. There is just a fear, in fact, that he nray bo out indefinitely.

St. Klmn and Golden Glade are under orders for Sydney. Golden Glade is a good galloper, but a 'tendency to hit his stifle is a serious handicap to him as a jumper, as it usually means a few days' rest, which makes it hard to get him thoroughly wound up. . V. Collelo will leave for Sydney shortly in charge of Tressida. He will not take his steeplechaser Braeburn, who is to have a decent spell prior to being got ready for next winter's racing. Art is to go home after this week's meeting- at Riooarton. Ho has earned a spell, as ho has not had much rest for more than two years, during which period he lias won a lot of races. When he comes back ho will be accompanied by Banian. In the meantime Art's place will be filled by Phil May, by Count Witte—Edna May. He has no public form to recommend him, but ho is a decent galloper. In conversation last week with Mr D. 11. Roberts I learned that Sarfco's list is full for this season. Mr Roberts will put all his own mares to the St. Simon horse. Among them are the dams of three horses he now has in training, these being Red Cross, dam of Fiery Cross; Ecarte. dam of Glendowor; and Partisan, dam of Kris. There are three more Glenapp yearlings from these mares, who were given a rest last year, so tlvt the youngsters should have every chance. The Metropolitan Trotting Club is assured of a good meeting this week. The fields will be large—uncomfortably so, —-and with nearly nil the best horses engaged there should be some great sport. The course is in fine order, and if the weather holds I expect to see one or two horses qualify for the New Zealand Trotting Cup.